Want to skip straight to checking your own building? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.
Urbana is a mid-sized city in Champaign County, Illinois, home to roughly 40,000 residents and a large student and young-professional renter population owing to its proximity to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Renters make up a substantial majority of Urbana households, and questions about security deposit returns, eviction procedures, and landlord repair obligations are among the most common legal issues local tenants face.
Illinois state law forms the foundation of tenant protections in Urbana. Key statutes include the Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710), the Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 715), the Landlord and Tenant Act (765 ILCS 720), and the general eviction procedures codified at 735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq. Urbana has not enacted its own residential landlord–tenant ordinance beyond state law, so these state statutes govern the landlord–tenant relationship citywide.
This page provides a plain-language summary of tenant rights in Urbana, Illinois. It is intended as general information only and is not legal advice. Laws can change, and individual circumstances vary; consult a licensed Illinois attorney or a local legal aid organization if you have a specific legal question.
Urbana has no rent control, and Illinois state law expressly prohibits any city or county from enacting it. The Illinois Rent Control Preemption Act (765 ILCS 720/1) bars all municipalities in the state — including Urbana — from passing any ordinance that limits the amount a landlord may charge for rent or the frequency of rent increases. This preemption has been in effect since 1997 and applies uniformly across Illinois, including in Champaign County.
In practice, this means your landlord in Urbana may raise your rent by any amount, at any time, as long as proper written notice is provided before the increase takes effect. For a month-to-month tenancy, that notice period is at least 30 days (735 ILCS 5/9-207). For a fixed-term lease, the rent is locked in for the lease period, but the landlord has no obligation to renew at the same rate. There is no local agency to appeal a rent increase to, and no cap on how much rents can rise. Renters who receive an unaffordable increase have the option to negotiate with their landlord or to vacate at the end of their notice period or lease term.
Habitability (Illinois Common Law & 765 ILCS 735/1): Illinois landlords are required to maintain rental units in a habitable condition throughout the tenancy. This obligation — rooted in the implied warranty of habitability recognized by Illinois courts — means landlords must keep the premises structurally sound, weatherproofed, supplied with heat and running water, and free from conditions that endanger health or safety. If a landlord fails to make necessary repairs after reasonable notice, a tenant may have remedies including rent withholding or repair-and-deduct under applicable Illinois case law, though tenants should seek legal advice before exercising these remedies.
Security Deposit Return (765 ILCS 710/1): The Illinois Security Deposit Return Act requires landlords who hold a security deposit to return it — along with an itemized statement of any deductions — within 30 days after the tenant vacates the unit and returns possession. If deductions are made for damages beyond normal wear and tear, the landlord must provide receipts or invoices within 30 days. Failure to comply entitles the tenant to recover the full deposit amount plus damages under the statute.
Security Deposit Interest (765 ILCS 715/1): Landlords in Illinois who own 25 or more rental units must pay interest on security deposits held for more than six months. The interest rate is set annually by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Urbana landlords meeting this threshold must pay or credit accrued interest annually.
Notice to Terminate Tenancy (735 ILCS 5/9-207): To end a month-to-month tenancy, either the landlord or the tenant must provide at least 30 days written notice before the next rent due date. For week-to-week tenancies, 7 days notice is required. Fixed-term leases expire by their own terms, but landlords should provide reasonable advance notice if they do not intend to renew.
Anti-Retaliation (765 ILCS 720/1): Illinois law prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants for complaining to a government agency about housing code violations, organizing with other tenants, or exercising any legal right. Retaliation may include unjustified rent increases, refusal to renew, or attempted eviction within a certain time after a protected activity. A tenant who proves retaliation may raise it as a defense in an eviction proceeding.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition: Landlords in Illinois may not resort to self-help eviction. Changing the locks, removing the tenant's belongings, or deliberately shutting off utilities to force a tenant out are illegal under Illinois law (735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq.). A landlord must obtain a court judgment and have a sheriff execute a lawful eviction order before a tenant can be removed.
Illinois does not cap the amount a landlord may collect as a security deposit, so Urbana landlords may charge any amount agreed upon in the lease. However, once collected, the deposit is regulated by the Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710/1).
Return Deadline: A landlord must return the security deposit — or the portion not legitimately withheld — within 30 days after the tenant vacates the premises and returns possession of the unit. If the landlord intends to withhold any portion for damages beyond normal wear and tear, they must provide an itemized written statement of the deductions, accompanied by receipts or repair invoices, within that same 30-day window.
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: If a landlord fails to return the deposit or provide the required itemized statement within 30 days, the tenant is entitled to recover the full amount of the security deposit plus damages as provided under 765 ILCS 710/1. Tenants should document the condition of the unit at move-in and move-out with dated photographs and written communications to support any claim.
Interest on Deposits (765 ILCS 715/1): If your Urbana landlord owns 25 or more residential units, they must pay annual interest on your security deposit if it is held for more than six months. The applicable interest rate is determined each year by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Failure to pay required interest may also give the tenant a claim against the landlord.
Illinois law sets out a mandatory court-supervised eviction process. A landlord in Urbana cannot remove a tenant without following each of these steps under 735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing for eviction, the landlord must serve the tenant with written notice. The required notice period depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Filing in Court: If the tenant does not pay, cure, or vacate within the notice period, the landlord may file an eviction complaint in the Champaign County Circuit Court. The tenant will be served with a summons and has the right to appear and contest the eviction.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both parties may present their case at a hearing. Common tenant defenses include improper notice, landlord retaliation, or failure to maintain habitable conditions. If the court rules for the landlord, it issues an order of possession.
Step 4 — Sheriff Enforcement: Only a Champaign County Sheriff's deputy may physically remove a tenant pursuant to a valid court order. The landlord has no authority to remove the tenant, their belongings, or prevent access to the unit on their own.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: A landlord who changes the locks, removes doors or windows, shuts off utilities, or otherwise attempts to force a tenant out without a court order is committing an illegal self-help eviction under Illinois law (735 ILCS 5/9-101). A tenant subjected to such conduct should contact law enforcement and a legal aid organization immediately.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws in Illinois and Urbana can change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. Nothing on this page creates an attorney-client relationship. If you have questions about your rights as a renter, you should consult a licensed Illinois attorney or contact a local legal aid organization such as Prairie State Legal Services or Illinois Legal Aid Online. Always verify current statutes and local ordinances independently before taking action.
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
Use the Address Checker →We'll email you if the rent cap, coverage rules, or tenant protections change — no spam, unsubscribe any time.